Port Mansfield Joins Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12
Importers and logistics operators near Port Mansfield can now pursue foreign-trade zone designation for their facilities.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in International Trade
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The Port of Port Mansfield in Raymondville has joined Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12, and Willacy County has been added to the zone's service area. Eligible businesses in and around the port can now pursue FTZ designation for their facilities under the Alternative Site Framework.
Why it matters
Foreign-trade zone status lets goods be admitted, stored, handled or processed without immediate payment of U.S. duties and certain taxes, which can ease cash flow and lower costs for importers and logistics operators in South Texas. The port's assets more than doubled between 2020 and 2022, and it is preparing for additional growth along the Texas Gulf coast.
The port's assets more than doubled between 2020 and 2022, and it now offers a 17-foot authorized depth, a 700-foot channel width and 380 to 400 feet of newly completed berthing space at its commercial staging dock. More than 1,500 acres are available for commercial and residential plots, and the port sits one mile from the Intracoastal Waterway.
The players
Willacy County Navigation District
The local public authority that manages the Port of Port Mansfield and oversees its channels, land and commercial facilities.
Texas Department of Transportation
The state agency whose Maritime Division provided funding that supported the port's new commercial staging dock and seawall.
The details
Under the Alternative Site Framework, businesses in and around the port can seek FTZ designation for their own facilities rather than relying only on a single zone site. Companies must still apply, meet security and compliance standards, and obtain authorization before an FTZ site can be activated. The commercial staging dock and seawall were completed with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation's Maritime Division and local partnerships.
Timeline
2020 to 2022: Port assets more than doubled during this period.
November 6, 2026: The port announced its membership in Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12.
Market Landscape
The Alternative Site Framework lets eligible businesses seek foreign-trade zone designation for their own facilities instead of relying only on a single zone site. The Port of Port Mansfield's entry into Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12 extends that model to a port on the Texas Gulf coast, where neighboring ports at Corpus Christi and Brownsville also compete for trade volume.
Importers, logistics operators and manufacturers in South Texas should evaluate whether their facilities could qualify for FTZ designation under the Alternative Site Framework. Companies pursuing that path should plan for the application, security and compliance requirements, and should consult qualified customs counsel or an accountant before committing.
The takeaway
Operators with goods moving through the Texas Gulf coast should check whether their facilities could be eligible for FTZ designation and what authorization steps would apply. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney to assess eligibility before relying on any duty or tax deferral.
Further reading
For broader background on how trade zones and cross-border shipping work, see International Trade coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Waterways Journal.
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